On this day in 1910 Famous magician Harry Houdini made what is widely recognised as Australia's first powered flight at Diggers Rest Victoria.
Houdini's flight was certified by the Aerial league of Australia cementing his record for the first powered flight in the country.

Born on this day in 1944 is iconic Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith.
Dick is most well know for founding the Dick Smith electronics chain but he had many business ventures including Australian Geographic magazine and Australian produced and owned food company Dick Smith foods.
Dick has been politically active as a promoter of reforms to support local business and a critic of mass migration.
Happy birthday Dick Smith!

On this day in 1932 the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened.
The Bridge is constructed from 52,800 tonnes of steel held together with roughly 6 million hand driven rivets taking around 9 years to complete.
The opening ceremony was marked with controversy after Cpt Francis de Groot rode in on a horse and cut the ribbon before NSW premier Jack Lang could cut the ribbon.

On this day in 1897 Sir Edmund Barton led a conference to discuss a proposed constitution for the Commonwealth of Australia.
Pictured is the drafting committee for the Australian constitution bill in Adelaide. L-R John Downer, Edmund Barton, Richard O'connor.

On this day in 1887 Australia's first major mining disaster occurred at the Bulli mine in NSW when a catastrophic coal dust explosion took the lives of 81 men and boys. The disaster left behind 50 widows and 150 fatherless children.
The disaster was a defining moment in Australia's labor movement transforming the isolated local groups into a unified and militant movement that was able to wield political power and demand increased safety measures.

On this day in 1936, PM Joseph Lyons officially opened the world's longest submarine telephone and telegraph cable, connecting mainland Australia to Tasmania. At the time of its completion, this 160-mile (approx. 258 km) link was a global record-breaker for its kind and finally integrated all Australian states into a single, common telephone network.

On this day in 1908, Witches Falls in the Gold Coast hinterland was declared Queensland's first national park.

On this day in 1901 Edmund Barton was elected as Australia's first Prime Minister after the nations first federal election.
Already serving as caretaker PM after federation on the 1st of Jan 1901 the election provided Barton with a mandate to continue leading the new nation.

On this day in 1792, emancipated convict James Ruse was granted the first official land grant in NSW.
When early attempts at farming had met with little success Ruse was given the use of 1.5 acres on a trial basis with the condition he must produce a harvest. Ruse was successful in producing the colony's first wheat crop and Governor Phillip granted him 30 acres of land near paramatta as a reward.

https://ausnatives.org/podcast/sydneysiders/

Listen in to the latest Natives' Rouseabout 📣

In this episode Trent, Richard and Percy discuss the establishment of a new ANA branch in Sydney along with the city’s historical and cultural importance.

On this day in 1978 Entrepreneur Dick Smith orchestrated the Sydney iceberg hoax.
Smith hired a barge which he covered in plastic sheeting, firefighting foam and shaving cream to create the illusion of an iceberg. As the "iceberg" was towed into Sydney harbour in the early morning, co-conspirators rang radio stations to report they had seen an iceberg being towed into the harbour. People were initially fooled but after it started raining the foam and shaving cream were washed away making the "iceberg" far less convincing.
Despite the weather not cooperating this is still considered one of Australia's most successful April fools day pranks with many radio stations and newspapers hoodwinked.

On this day in 1846 South Australia's first payable gold was discovered. at Echunga.
The South Australian government had offered a reward of £1,000 for the discovery of a payable goldfield to prevent the mass exodus of miners for the Victorian goldfields.

On this day in 1979 the Kakadu National park was established.
This world heritage site covers an area roughly the size of Wales. The relatively untouched natural environment supports an abundance of Australian flora and fauna.

On this day in 1895 Waltzing Matilda was sung in public for the first time.
The Banjo Paterson poem was first put to music at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton, Qld.
The song is now Australia's most widely recognised folk tune and even came in second in the 1977 plebiscite that delivered Advanced Australia Fair as our anthem.

On this day in 1817 Australia's first bank was established.
The bank survived liquidity crisis's in the 1820's and played a crucial role in the development of Australia's economy.

On this day in 1865 notorious bush ranger "Mad" Dan Morgan was shot dead by a station hand after taking hostages at Peechelba Station.
Morgan's life is just one chapter in a period of relative lawlessness during the mid 19th Century as Australian settlers battled to establish life on the continent.

On this day in 1969 the Brisbane tram system closed after 85 years of operation.
Tram no.544 was the last car to make an official run on the tracks marking an end to the era of trams in Brisbane.